Vertical installation of CircuPool SJ-35 SWCG?

[averagejoe]

I just installed CircuPool SJ-35 SWCG, with idea of running it nearly 24/7 using low RPM setting on my VS pump.

Unfortunately, it requires at least 1500 RPM to keep air collecting at the top of SWCG, anything below and enough gas collects there for safety feature turning of generation due to low level of water.

I was thinking to install it vertically with outlet side pointing up - this way, I think, gas should have much easier time to escape SWCG housing. The safety sensor is located at the top of the cell, right above the exit port.

Any1 done it this way? Or may be there is an obvious flaw with such setup?

 

[PoolStored]

 

[averagejoe]

Right.. And that's how I did it. Just wondering what could possibly go wrong if installed vertically (I couldn't find anything in documentation about potential failures if installed vertically). If anything, safety sensor on the top should trip faster, not slower.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Check out the Post #6 and #7 below. @1poolman1 may be able to provide some guidance on your specific unit.

Jacuzzi SWG Service light on

@1poolman1 I have the same jacuzzi jscs-40 salt cell and my service lights keeps coming on. I notice if I press the up and down arrow at the same time and it switches polarity that it the service lights goes away until it switches polarity again and stays on. The cells is clean and only two...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ajw22]

Put a level on the cell. Is it level or tilted?

 

[averagejoe]

Put a level on the cell. Is it level or tilted?

It is level. It is running on the picture - that's why air is shifted to the left.

 

[mknauss]

It also does not look like it is 6" above all other pool equipment.
From Circupool Wiki
The SJ series cell must be mounted horizontally and 6" above the highest plumbing point, which limits installation options. The design and positioning of the cell allows for air pockets to form on the top portion of the cell, exposing the plates, particularly when running at lower speeds.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

FWIW, I had the same style cell (a Calimar unit) and had the same issues when running at low VS speeds. I ended up replacing the unit with a RJ-Series SWG. While it was installed, I had to set up my automation to run at higher speeds for a couple minutes every hour or so to purge the cell of gasses.

This is a quote from the installation instruction for my Calimar unit:

The Platinum System cell MUST be installed horizontally, with the ports down, as the last
piece of pool equipment in line, on the return to the pool, after the heater. (See illustration
on next page) the design of the cell forms a natural gas trap. Even though the Platinum
system has an internal low sensor, this installation provides a secondary safety feature to
prevent gas build-up within the system. Note: The inlet is labeled on the cell housing with
an arrow pointing up. The cell housing should be located 6 inches above the height of
plumbing:

 

[averagejoe]

It also does not look like it is 6" above all other pool equipment.
From Circupool Wiki
The SJ series cell must be mounted horizontally and 6" above the highest plumbing point, which limits installation options. The design and positioning of the cell allows for air pockets to form on the top portion of the cell, exposing the plates, particularly when running at lower speeds.

Looked through the installation manual again just now - it doesn't mention 6" above all the equipment. How does raising it above filter (the highest point in my case) would affect gas pockets forming there? If it can solve the air pockets problem - it is easy to re-do for me, just not very convenient to maintain it later.

 

[mknauss]

it doesn't mention 6" above all the equipment.

From Installation Manual
as the highest point of the plumbing this forms a natural gas trap, a secondary safety feature to prevent gas buildup in the system.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

If it can solve the air pockets problem - it is easy to re-do for me, just not very convenient to maintain it later.

I don't think moving the device (in compliance with the "highest point" language in the manual) will solve your problem of gas forming at the top of the cell. Based on my experience with my cell, it's the design of the cell, coupled with low speed pump operation, that allows a gas to form at the top of the cell.

 

[hexabc]

What speed are you trying to run your pump? Initially I set the chlorination speed of my B&D VSP to 1500 rpm, but wasn't happy with the skimming action. When I go from 1500 to 1600 rpm, the consumed power increases from 220 to 250 watts - a poultry difference. So I decided to chlorinate at 1600 rpm.

 

[averagejoe]

What speed are you trying to run your pump? Initially I set the chlorination speed of my B&D VSP to 1500 rpm, but wasn't happy with the skimming action. When I go from 1500 to 1600 rpm, the consumed power increases from 220 to 250 watts - a poultry difference. So I decided to chlorinate at 1600 rpm.

Before installing swg I kept it at 1000 rpm all the time except 4 hours during the day set at max 3750 rpm to get vacuum and skimmer going. Now I have to bump it to 1500 rpm for swcg working. Ideally, I wanted to go back to 1000 rpm, but you are right, power wise it wouldn't be much of a difference, probably 10 bucks more a month or so.

 

[hexabc]

Before installing swg I kept it at 1000 rpm all the time except 4 hours during the day set at max 3750 rpm to get vacuum and skimmer going. Now I have to bump it to 1500 rpm for swcg working. Ideally, I wanted to go back to 1000 rpm, but you are right, power wise it wouldn't be much of a difference, probably 10 bucks more a month or so.

I know that every pool is different, but just for comparison, here are speed settings in my 22,000 gal pool:

priming, 2 minutes on pump start: 2100 rpm (475 W)
cleaning, 1 hour Polaris 280 run + 15 minutes every 2 hours for intensive skimming: 1800 rpm (325 W)
chlorination, the remaining time in 11 hours total run: 1600 rpm (245 W)

Why do you need to run your powerful pump at the maximum speed?

 

[averagejoe]

I know that every pool is different, but just for comparison, here are speed settings in my 22,000 gal pool:

priming, 2 minutes on pump start: 2100 rpm (475 W)
cleaning, 1 hour Polaris 280 run + 15 minutes every 2 hours for intensive skimming: 1800 rpm (325 W)
chlorination, the remaining time in 11 hours total run: 1600 rpm (245 W)

Why do you need to run your powerful pump at the maximum speed?

For whatever reason, most likely a bit longish plumbing runs and diameters of pipes on the lower end, my vacuum (jandy mx6) need all the flow pump can get to get going.

But as far as I can tell, high flow is not a problem - it is when it is low SWCG keeps collecting gas.